Carry-bag

ABSTRACT

A carry-bag includes two wall sheets (34,36) joined or coherent to define a bag portion, and the respective top portions of the wall sheets are provided with gripping and carrying openings. In order to provide a strong, easy to use, and relatively tight closing to the interior of the bag portion, the top portion of a first wall sheet (34) has been folded inwardly and attached to define an insertion pocket (24), and a gripping opening is provided in the pocket. A top portion of the other wall sheet (36) is shaped as an insertion tongue (32) which is also provided with a gripping opening (6) and is adapted to be received in the interior of the pocket (24) so that the two gripping openings are at least partially coextensive. In particular, if a carrying stick has been inserted in a passage (8) along the top edge of the insertion tongue, there is provided a strong carrying means which also closes effectively to the interior of the bag portion, since the top edge of the tongue will be drawn against the bottom in the pocket, when carrying the bag.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 341,993,filed Jan. 15, 1982, abandoned.

The present invention relates to a carry-bag comprising two wall sheetswhich are joined together and/or are coherent along two opposed sideedges and along a bottom edge so as to define a bag portion, the topportions of said wall sheets being provided with respective gripping andcarrying openings.

Carry-bags of this type including hand grip apertures in the top portionthereof are known in several designs. There is, however, a need for acarry-bag having a simple closing arrangement, whereby the top of thebag can be closed so that goods in the interior of the bag can beeffectively and relatively tightly confined therein. This need isparticularly outstanding in connection with so-called thermo carry-bagse.g. for storing and transporting frozen products.

It is an object of the invention to satisfy this need by providing acarry-bag of the actual type having a carrying and closing arrangementwhich is sturdy, simple to use and to manufacture and whereby the accessto the interior of the carry-bag can be effectively and relativelytightly closed.

This is achieved by the carry-bag of the invention which ischaracterized in that the top portion of one of the wall sheets isfolded inwardly and backwardly and is attached so as to define aninsertion pocket, the entry of said pocket being at the inner side ofsaid wall sheet, when the carry-bag is in its open condition, a firstgripping opening being defined in the insertion pocket thus provided,and in that the top portion of the other wall sheet is shaped as aninsertion flap provided with a second gripping opening and adapted forintroduction into the interior of said insertion pocket so that saidfirst and second gripping openings are at least partially coextensivewith said insertion flap received in said pocket.

When grasping and lifting the carry-bag in its closed condition, i.e.with the insertion flap introduced into the corresponding insertionpocket, by putting the fingers of a hand through the respective grippingopenings, the leading or top edge of the insertion flap will be pulledinto or up into the insertion pocket, thereby tightening against thebottom of the pocket. In a preferred embodiment, this tightening effectis further improved by providing the top edge of the insertion flap witha passage or channel which includes or is adapted to receive atransverse carrying stick in the area along the top edge of the flap.Such a carrying stick also renders the bag sturdier and more comfortableto carry in the hand.

The gripping openings in the insertion flap and in the insertion pocket,respectively, may be designed as usual hand gripping apertures which areat least partially coextensive in the closed condition of the carry-bag.In a particularly preferred embodiment, the gripping opening in theinsertion pocket is, however, defined by a U-shaped cut provided in thewall sheet before the formation of the pocket by folding the wall-sheet,and wherein the bottom of the U-shaped cut extends along and spaced fromthe top edge of the unfolded wall sheet. A subsequent formation of theinsertion pocket by folding across the two legs of the U-cut willthereby provide a closing flap having a free edge which can be adaptedto be threaded through the gripping opening in the insertion flap in theclosed condition of the carry-bag, whereafter the closing flap can bedetachably connected with the outer surface of the carry-bag, e.g. bymeans of a snap fastener. Thus, in this embodiment, the gripping openingin the insertion pocket defines a notch in the bottom of the completedpocket, whereby the gripping opening of the insertion flap will beexposed completely or partially in the closed condition of thecarry-bag. The tightness in the closing of the bag is, however, furtherimproved due to the fact that the closing flap tends to prevent theinsertion pocket from opening and also due to the fact that the closingflap forms a flap-over closure.

Preferably, the top portions of the two walls sheets have been doubledby foldings before providing the insertion flap and insertion pockets,respectively, whereby the insertion pocket in particular, which shall beable to carry a substantial part of the bag load, becomes very sturdy.

According to the invention the side edge seals of the wall sheets arepreferably continued through the entire length of the carry-bag in orderto close the sides of the insertion pocket, whereas the correspondingside edges of the insertion flap are retracted and kept free of therespective side edge seals. Thereby is achieved a structure which isstrong and simple to produce.

In the following, the invention will be further described with referenceto the drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is plan view showing a carry-bag according to the inventionduring an initial step of manufacture,

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the bag blank of FIG. 1 (11--11)during a subsequent step of manufacture,

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the bagblank folded to its final bag shape,

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the bag blank of FIG. 3 (IV--IV) in itscompleted form with side edge seals, and

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing the top portion of the carry-bagof FIG. 4 in its closed condition.

A bag blank 2 shown in FIG. 1 is for further processing into a carry bagaccording to the invention. The blank may be prepared from asingle-layer web, e.g. of polyethylene, but as indicated in FIGS. 2 and3, the blank may also be prepared from two outer layers, e.g. ofpolyethylene and an intermediate heat insulating layer, e.g. ofpolyester wadding.

The bag blank 2 in FIG. 1 has been doubled at the two end areas thereofwhich subsequently are to define the top portions of the carry-bag. Oneof the end portions 4 is provided with a gripping opening 6, and the endportion 4 is, moreover, designed as an insertion flap or tongue by meansof appropriately disposed transverse weldings. In this connection, theend portion 4 is preferably slightly tapered by trimming the side edgesof the end portion as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1. The leadingedge of the end portion 4 is also provided with a channel or passage 8which is adapted for inserting a carry-stick therein preferably a roundstick 10 (FIG. 4) extending along the top edge of the insertion tonguein the completed carry-bag. In the embodiment shown, the passage 8 hasbeen provided in connection with the folding of the end portion 4 and bymeans of a transverse welding 12 and, preferably, the carrying stick hasa length which essentially corresponds to the length of the top edge ofthe insertion tongue.

The other end portion 14 of the bag blank 2 in FIG. 1 has also beendoubled by reverse folding and is attached by means of a transversewelding 16. Such a doubling is not necessary in all cases, but ispreferable, in particular when the completed carry-bag shall be able tocarry and withstand heavy goods. In the end portion 14 there is,moreover, provided a U-shaped cut 18 having a bottom or central portionwhich extends along, but spaced from the leading edge 20, and two legsdirected away from the leading edge 20 of the end portion 14.

In a subsequent step, which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, theend portion 14 is folded about a line 22 to define an insertion pocket24 having an entry defined by the edge 20 which is the leading edge ofthe bag blank in FIG. 1. As indicated at the right hand end of FIG. 2,the portion which has been cut free by the U-cut 18, defines a closingflap 26, the width and location thereof being so adapted that theclosing flap can be inserted through the gripping opening 6 in thecompleted carry-bag as will be further described. When the closing flap26 includes several layers of material, such as is the case in theexample shown, it is appropriate that the flap is sealed by means of atransverse welding as indicated at 28 in FIG. 1.

The area which is surrounded by the U-cut 18 in FIG. 1, also defines agripping opening in the shape of a notch in the bottom of the insertionpocket 24.

The bag blank in FIG. 2 is then folded about a transverse line 30 whichis at the middle of the blank 2 in FIG. 1, resulting in a shape as thatshown schematically in FIG. 3, wherein the insertion tongue 32 and theinsertion pocket 24 are shown slightly separated for the sake of clarityand in order to show the access to the interior of the real bag portionnow defined by two wall sheets 34, 36. It is to be noted that the foldedmaterial portions are shown excessively separated in FIGS. 2 and 3 forthe sake of clarification, and the weldings are, moreover, onlyindicated schematically by short cross lines.

Thereafter the carry-bag is completed by preparing side edge sealings38, 40 as shown in FIG. 4, and these edge sealings are extended orcontinued to the top edge of the carry-bag, thereby closing the sides ofthe insertion pocket 24, whereas the corresponding side edges of theinsertion tongue 32 are still free to move. The carry-bag in FIG. 4 isshown in its open condition, i.e. with the insertion tongue 32 lying onthe exterior of the insertion pocket 24. The carry-stick 10 can then beinserted in the channel 8 along the top edge of the insertion tongue andthis may take place either at once or at a later time, possibly whentaking the carry-bag into use.

FIG. 5 shows the closed condition of the carry-bag. Compared to the opencondition shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insertion tongue 32 has beenintroduced into the interior of the pocket 24, and, thereafter, theclosing flap 26 has been inserted through the gripping opening 6 in thetongue 32. Then the closing flap 26 is pulled downwardly in FIG. 5,wherein the flap has been attached by means of a snap fastener 42,provided exteriorly on the wall sheet 36, which includes the insertiontongue 32. As will appear from FIG. 5, there has hereby been provided agripping opening being a notch in the bottom of the insertion pocket 24,i.e. in the top edge of the wall sheet 34 which includes or defines theinsertion pocket. Through this notch there is relatively free access tothe gripping opening 6 in the insertion tongue which is disposed in theinterior of the pocket.

When carrying the closed carry-bag in a hand, the top edge of theinsertion tongue will be drawn against the bottom of the pocket, wherebya tightening or sealing effect is created, in particular when a carryingstick 10 is used. Moreover, the closing flap, which is attached as shownin FIG. 5, will retain the access edge 20 of the pocket so that thepocket will not open to a substantial extent due to vertical tensionswhich arise when carrying the closed bag. In addition, the flap 26itself defines a tightening flap-over closure. Thereby an effective,sturdy and relatively tight closure to the interior of the bag has beenprovided.

Due to this closure, and also due to the design of the carry-bag, thecarry-bag according to the invention is particularly useful as are-usable thermo carry-bag. However, as indicated above, the carry-bagaccording to the invention is not restricted to this particular use,since the carry-bag may also be produced from a singlelayer stockmaterial which may be plastic material or paper of an appropriatequality, and since the weldings may be replaced by correspondinggluings.

Embodiments as that schematically shown in FIG. 3 having a flexible andcompressible padding 31 between flexible cover sheets or foils 33, 35are, however, particularly useful as thermo-insulating bags. In oneembodiment, the outer cover sheet 33 is a smooth sheet prepared from abasic material, preferably granulated polyethylene, while admixing e.g.1-3% aluminium powder or another material having correspondingproperties. However, the outer cover layer 33 may also consist of othersheets, including sheet laminates, such as a foamed polyethylene sheet.

The heat insulating padding 31 may be of a material such as polyesterwadding, which has the property that the material approximatelyreassumes its initial thickness which may be of the order of 2 cm, whenreleaving the material after a compression.

The inner cover sheet 35 may be a polyethylene sheet or a sheet laminatepossibly including an intermediate aluminium layer.

As mentioned above, embodiments as that of FIG. 3 are particularlyuseful as thermo-insulating bags not only due to the heat insulatingeffect of the pading 31, but also due to the bulk and compressibility ofthe bag walls. Thus, assuming that an object such as a deep-frozen item,has been deposited in the interior of the bag in FIG. 3, then the wallsof the bag will adapt to the shape of the object when carrying the bagsince the bag walls are able to yield and enclose the object which isthereby confined in the bag wall material. This is due to the fact thatthe bag walls yield and fit around the object because of inwardlydirected components of the tension forces which are present in the bagwalls when the bag is carried in the usual manner.

An object may thereby be kept cold (or hot) in the carrying-bag duringan extended period of time, since the object will be confined in a spaceor volume which is not substantially greater than the volume of theobject.

The above effect may also be obtained to some extent with other closingand carrying means for the carry-bag, and an aluminium-containing outercover sheet or foil is not strictly necessary, either. However, theobject-confining effect will be obtained to a particularly great extentin connection with a closing and carrying arrangement as that of the bagof the invention, since the tension forces in the bag walls will beevenly distributed over the width of the bag.

The bag portion of the carry-bag of the invention may also appropriatelybe provided with suitably located vent openings so that air may escapefrom the interior of the bag walls, e.g. when stacking and storing bagsin flat condition.

In summary, it is an essential feature of the carry-bag of the inventionthat a closing flap corresponding to flap 26 is adapted to extend fromone of the bag wall sheets, through the gripping openings, and then tothe other bag wall sheet. One end of the closing flap is joined to orintegral with the first bag wall, while the other end is free, but isadapted to be releasably attached to the other bag wall such as shown inFIG. 5. The closing flap can thereby prevent the insertion pocket 24from being opened and the flap will also cover the access to theinterior of the bag which would otherwise exist at the grippingopenings, if the flap was not present. Preferably, the closing flap hasa width which substantially corresponds to the width or transversedimension of the gripping opening 6 in the insertion flap or tongue 32.

In embodiments which include a padding corresponding to padding 31, itshould be noted that the padding only extends through the bag portion,whereas at least one of the cover layers corresponding to sheets 33 and35 (FIG. 3), continues through the respective end portions correspondingto end portions 4 and 14 (FIG. 1).

Finally, it will be understood that details of the specific embodimentillustrated in the drawing and described above, may be varied ormodified without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A carrier bag comprising:a first wall sheet; a second wallsheet joining said first wall sheet along two opposed side edges andalong a bottom edge so as to define a bag portion; a top portion of saidfirst wall sheet being folded upon itself to define an insertion pockethaving an entry edge located at an inner side of said first wall sheet,when said bag is in an open condition and said top portion of said firstwall sheet includes a cut defining a first gripping opening and aclosing flap; a top portion of said second wall sheet defining aninsertion flap adapted for introduction into the interior of saidinsertion pocket; a second gripping opening defined by said insertionflap adapted for introduction into the interior of said insertion pocketso that said first gripping opening and said second gripping opening areat least partially coextensive when said insertion flap is received insaid insertion pocket; said closing flap having a free front edge, thesize and location of said closing flap being so adapted that saidclosing flap extends through said first gripping opening and said secondgripping opening when said insertion flap is received in said insertionpocket to close access to the interior of said bag portion at said firstgripping opening and said second gripping opening; and means forremovably attaching said free front edge of said closing flap to theouter side of said second wall sheet when said insertion flap isreceived in said insertion pocket.
 2. A carrier bag of claim 1, whereinsaid cut in said insertion pocket is a U-shaped cut provided in saidfirst wall sheet before the formation of said insertion pocket byfolding, a portion of said U-shaped cut extending along, but spacedfrom, a top edge of said unfolded first wall sheet, and wherein aportion of said first wall sheet cut free by said U-shaped cut formssaid closing flap.
 3. The carrier bag of claim 1, wherein a top edge ofsaid insertion flap is provided with a passage adapted to receive atransverse carrying stick extending along said top edge.
 4. The carrierbag of claim 1, wherein said top portions of said first and said secondwall sheets have been doubled by folding before forming said insertionflap and said insertion pocket respectively.
 5. The carrier bag of claim1, wherein side edge seals of said first and said second sheets areextended to a top edge of said bag, thereby sealing opposite sides ofsaid insertion pocket, whereas the corresponding side edges of saidinsertion flap are cut away and kept free of the respective side edgeseals.
 6. The carrier bag of claim 1, wherein said first wall sheet andsaid second wall sheet each includes at least one flexible cover layerand a compressible layer.
 7. The carrier bag of claim 6, wherein saidcompressible layer is formed of a material capable of substantiallyrecovering its initial thickness, when the material is relieved aftercompression.
 8. The carrier bag of claim 7, wherein said material is aheat insulating material enclosed between two flexible cover layers.